Page 41 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

Celeste-Eight Months Later

" M om, I can't believe we're here right now!" Talon's eyes are huge as he takes in the ice.

We're sitting front row for Game Seven of the Stanley Cup. Maclan's team has fought hard to get here, and I couldn't be prouder of the season he's had. According to the reporters, it's his best yet and he's a top contender for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

"I know, bud. It's going to be a really exciting game."

"Dad's going to kick some butt." Talon beams at me as I melt at hearing him call Maclan dad.

We got married in a small, intimate wedding on New Year's Day in our backyard.

It was magical, with the snow covering the ground and the yard decorated in evergreens and rich burgundy flowers.

The kids were the only people in the wedding with us.

We celebrated the day after at The Tavern, with a big party for our closest friends and family.

It was perfect, and I've loved every second of being married to Maclan and watching him officially step into his role as the kids' father.

I surprised him on Valentine's Day with the official paperwork for adoption. All of us cried as he agreed to make our family official and give the kids his last name. What he doesn't know is that our family is about to get even bigger.

We've been trying for another baby since the wedding, but we haven't gotten pregnant.

Well, that is until I started feeling sick last month.

I had my first appointment with my OB yesterday and almost passed out when she told me there were two heartbeats.

It's a damn good thing my man knows how to play defense since we're really going to be outnumbered.

"Hello, Mom! Did you hear me?" Talon tugs on my sleeve.

It's just the two of us in the seats for now. Ezra and Daphne have the girls. They were taking a nap and will be here shortly. Talon was too excited and didn't want to be late.

"Sorry, buddy. I didn't. What were you saying?" I smooth his hair out of his eyes and smother my smile when he rolls his eyes at me.

"I wanted to know when we get to show Dad the special sign."

"Oh, well, I figured we'd wait until after the game. I don't want to distract him." Talon is the only one who knows my secret.

"I don't know. I think we should do it before." His brows furrow as he concentrates hard. "I think it will make him play extra hard if he knows about the babies."

"You think?" I pull him into my side and give him a squeeze, relieved that he's just as excited about more babies as I am.

"Oh yeah. Dad says he always plays best when he knows we're here because we're his family and love him no matter what. He'll be so happy that we're getting two babies." He holds up two fingers as his eyes widen, making me giggle.

"You know what? I think you're right. Let's do it once your sisters get here." I smile as excitement fills me from head to toe.

"Yes!" Talon pumps a fist in the air, then looks anxiously over his shoulder to see if his uncle is coming with his sisters.

It doesn't take long for them to show up and join us in our seats.

I'm glad my brother decided to stay rink side with us tonight.

If it gets to be too much, we'll head up to the box with the rest of our family and friends, but I love being this close.

Plus, it will be nice for him to find out at the same time as Mac.

"Mom, Dad's looking! Can we do it now?" Talon's bouncing where he stands, while Calla and Layla pound on the glass as they try to get to Mac.

"Sure." I grab the folded-up sign from my bag, pass one corner to Talon, and hold it up high. "Hey, Daph. Can you record this?" I smile at her as she raises a brow but whips out her phone and hits record.

Mac squints to read it then drops his stick as he stops in his tracks on the ice. The sign reads: Make room, Mac-Attack! Player A and Player B are joining the roster in December (or sooner)! The ultrasound of the twins is taped on the bottom.

They're already twelve weeks, so my doctor assured me the chance of losing them at this point is very slim and encouraged me to share with my family if I chose to.

With all the craziness of the playoffs, Talia's career taking off, and my own flourishing, I forgot to track my cycle, which is how I got so far along without realizing I was pregnant.

Mac snaps out of his haze when Thor slaps him on the shoulder and whispers something in his ear. He races across the ice to stand in front of us.

"Are you serious, gorgeous?" Tears fill his eyes.

I nod, too choked up to answer.

"Dad, Mom's going to have two babies!" Talon yells excitedly from beside me.

"Two?!" Mac's eyes get round, making me laugh.

"What did you think I meant by Player A and Player B?" I yell through the glass.

"Holy shit. I-I don't know. I guess it didn't process." Looking around, he points to the seats by the tunnel. "Meet me over there."

"Okay." I turn to Ezra, who's beaming at me. "Can you keep the kids here?"

"Of course. Congrats, sis." He tugs me into his arms for a quick hug.

"Thansk, Ez. Love you."

"Love you too, Celly."

I make my way to the end of the aisle, where a security guard and a beaming Jessa are waiting. Apparently, our big announcement garnered more attention than I anticipated. I accept her hug and congratulations, then rush to where Mac is impatiently waiting.

As soon as I get close, he's reaching for me. His hands thread in my hair as he pulls me down to kiss him. Its sweet and hot, and everything I could ever need and then some.

"Thank you so fucking much, gorgeous." Mac pulls back as he rests his forehead on mine.

"For what?" I whisper as I stare into his eyes.

"For making me the happiest fucking man in the world. I thought I might be celebrating winning the cup tonight, but this blows that out of the water. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Maclan." I kiss him again, then smirk as the tease falls from my lips. "But I expect to see you lifting that cup in the air at the end of the night, ya hear? It will be the icing on the cake."

"You got it." With one more panty-melting kiss and a devilish wink, Mac skates off.

He's unstoppable on the ice. It's as if his team hasn't had a grueling season with injuries and tough losses, or that it's Game Seven in a long post-season, as they demolish their opponents.

They make it look easy, and like he promised, I cry happy tears as I watch Mac hoist the Stanley Cup in the air, showing it off for everyone to see all of his hard work paying off.

Like his dedication on the ice, his dedication to our family is unmatched.

I'm anxious about having twins, but I could not have picked a better partner to take on this next phase of my life with.

The two, along with our three other kids, are blessed with the best dad they could ask for, just like I am with the best partner.

Not long ago, I felt as if I was skating on thin ice, barely able to stand. Now, my feet are sure, thanks to Maclan's steady hand holding mine to guide me.